Luke 23: Three Crosses

On the day Jesus died on the cross, he did not die alone. Two other men, one on his right and one on his left, were also serving their death sentence.

In Luke 23, we read:

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

One man hurled insults. The other man asked Jesus to remember him in his kingdom.

Jesus ignored the one who insulted him. He offered a gift to the one who asked for his mercy.

The gift? Paradise with Jesus.

Many issues divide people today regarding the afterlife, but everyone wants to end up in Paradise with Christ.

The problem is that to be with him we must give him our attention, asking for his intervention in our lives.

Anything less is an insult to Jesus.

Not sure how you will make it today? Uncertain what lies ahead in your future? In this life, you will have trouble, but always remember: Those who trust in Jesus will be with him forever.

In Paradise.

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Dillon Burroughs is the author or co-author of numerous books and is handwriting a copy of the New Testament in 2011 at HolyWritProject.com. Find out more about Dillon at Facebook.com/readdB or readdB.com.